Page 115 of Slow Heat

“All right. Just leave those on the kitchen counter if you don’t mind. There’s nothing that will spoil. I’ll make the platters when I’ve showered and dressed.”

Yosef said nothing, disappearing down the hallway, heading to the kitchen with the bags.

Jason took the stairs two at a time. Adrenaline kicked through his system. He’d taken alpha quell that morning, but he grabbed two from his pocket and swallowed them quickly. He’d be calm and business-like through this negotiation and collect his prize as soon as it was over.

No matter how strange everything felt. Today was going to be a good day. He’d make sure of it.

The door to his room was open. He frowned, wondering who’d invaded his space and why. His parents better not have touched his come-covered shirt from the day before. He still hadn’t had time to enjoy it properly. He stepped inside his room, his nose instantly recognizing that the shirt was still there, and something more.

Vale was there, too.

“What are you doing?” Jason asked, uncertainty enveloping him.

Vale jerked and nearly dropped the drawing Jason had attempted of sand as it looked under the microscope. “I wanted to see your room before it was over.” Vale’s voice trembled.

Jason’s hope fluttered in his chest, beating against the strangeness he’d felt all morning with fragile wings. “Since we consummated already,” Jason said shyly. “It’s just a matter of signing the papers now. I would have shown you afterward.”

Vale’s eyes went distant.

Hope’s wings shuddered with the effort to keep flying.

“Vale?” Jason asked. “What’s wrong?”

“I’ve been thinking.” His voice sounded cracked, honey that’d hardened and shattered.

Jason swallowed. He took a step forward, his heart seizing when Vale took a step back. “About what?”

“About consummation,” Vale said quietly, keeping to his side of the room. “What makes it special? We’d already achieved orgasm together. Did putting your penis in my body really change so much?”

“Yes.” Jason’s voice quavered. “Didn’t it change things for you?”

Vale shrugged, his pale skin going paler as he looked back down at the paper. “What exactly would it change?”

“It strengthens the developing bond,” Jason said, closing the door to his room and leaning back against it. He hoped his father or pater didn’t come banging. He didn’t think they would, though. Something about the silence in the house told him they weren’t going to interfere.

Vale sighed. “The bond. Right.”

“Because we’reÉrosgápe.” What was wrong with Vale? Why was he so distant, so different?

“What is it about sex that makes the bond grow?” Vale asked.

“I don’t know. It’s special betweenÉrosgápe.It felt special to me.”

Vale nodded reluctantly.

“And then during heat there’ll be knotting,” Jason offered. Obviously, he’d never knotted anyone before. His cock grew hard just imagining being in Vale so tight and deep, knotted so big he couldn’t pull out even if he wanted to. He wanted to feel Vale climax again and again on his knot. He wanted to wring him out with pleasure. “Knotting is special.”

Vale gave Jason’s now-distended pants a disdainful eyebrow. “Yes, knotting also helps with the bond. Or that’s what they say.” His words echoed hollowly, and he looked down at the paper in his hand one more time before placing it carefully on Jason’s desk.

He cleared his throat and met Jason’s eye. “I’ve had a lot of alphas, Jason. Alotof alphas, and I’ve taken a lot of knots.”

Jason’s throat went tight and he shook his head. “I don’t care.”

Vale held up his hand. “If you knew how many and if you knew the truth, you won’t be able to help but care. Which is why I need to tell you now.”

“Vale…”

“You said the other night I should tell whenI’mready, and, while I think that’s admirable, it’s bullshit. See, the thing is, I need to tell you now, before we sign anything. It doesn’t matter if I’m ready or not. It doesn’t matter what I want or don’t want. Do you understand?”